The Ouachita telegraph. [volume] (Monroe, La.) 1865-1889, 1887-05-07
MRS. JAMES BROWN POTTER.
Interesting Story OF How She Achieved
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\ Washington letter 10 The Chicago
News says: The dramatic endeavor
OF Mrs James Brown Potter in Europe
Interests a great many society people
here, where she first gained repu;a-
ton, or rather a notoriety. l met at
the club the other day gentleman of
prominence, who made confession as
10 his connection with the Potter boom.
Il had no idea it would turn out as
it has," he said, or l might have
thought twice before going into it.
However, no harm has been done so
far. Mrs. Potter has got what she was
after, a chance on the public stage, and
may turn out we'll. Pm sure l hope
so. Well, the facts of the case are
these; Mrs. Potter came over to
Washington as the guest OF Mrs. Whit
ney to appear i'll private theatricais for
the benefit of charity. She came
with the expectation ana intention Of
creating sensation. of getting All ad
ver;isement which would make her
available as theatrical material. 10
other words, she had the stage fever,
aud knew that if she could get notori-
ETY. enough She might appear in q play
as professional withou. going through
the hard school in which legitimate
actors have TO study. The Russian
Honeymoon was the play in which
she appeared at The National Thcatre,
and although the house was crowded
With a fashionable audience and Mrs.
Potter appeared in her best, she did
not make any sort of a sensation. The
honors were carried Off by Miss Rid
die, the daughter of Judge Riddle, an
ex-member Of Congress from Ohio, and
a young fellow by the name Of Hub
bard, who appeared in comic operas.
''Mrs. Potter was disappointed and
Disguised. Through her manipulation
the play was repeated at Baltimore,
but she made no sensation there. Then
she got up a charity entertainment at
Mrs. Whituey's, at which the tickets
were $40 and sold only to invited
guests. 1t was announced that the
creme de la creme of Washington
wonld be there, and that the list of
those who attended would be printed
in the papers, so that every seat was
sold. 1t isn't often one has the chance
to get in the catalogue of the arstoc>
racy for $40. Well, the British Min
ister's daughter played a soto on the
Zitber, a member Of the German Lega-
ton banged awhile OF the piano, two
or three pretty girls sang love songs,
and Mrs. James Brown Potter reci,ed
& poem. Mrs. Whitney served cham
pagne and ices during the performance,
had everybody had y good time, bui
Mrs. Potter failed again 10 create the
sensation she expected.
"The performance was ca WeInes-
day night. On Saturday an army Off
Ger came to me aud asked if | could
not assist in working the Sunday pa
pers in the interest OF Mrs. Potter,
whose husband was an intimate friend
of his, he said, and would be gratified
at any notice his wifo received |
wasn't III the swim, and asked him to
tell me about the Whitney entertain.
mcnt, 20 give me some points 70 work
on. He said that Mrs. Potter read n
pathetic poem Of George B. Sims called
'Ostlcr joe in the same lire as
Hoods 'One More Unfortunate.' /
had questioned him some, and soon
discovered that it was notoriely the
lady was after, so / suggested tha,
l write communication accusing
her Of shocking the audience by
reading an indecent poem. He was
frightened and demonstrated. It would
never 90 IN the world, he said. I ar
gucd with him awhile, an;. showed
that such an attack would bring every
friend she tad to tier defense. con-
WINGED hin that 1t wDuid he the best
sort OF AN advertisement, but he would
not consent to it til He had Consulted
Wiih Mrs. Potter.
'IIc jumped into a CAB, rode up TO
the Wh!they's and soon returned to qay
that Mrs. Potter was not only willing
20 stand the racket, bat Thought il was
splendid scheme. then went 10 The
office Of the Sunday Capital ana asked
the editor if he had heard what Il shCcI;
Mrs. Potter had caused the aristocrscy
by reading poem thaL was of color
at the Whitney reception. OF course
he jumped at the bait, and was flou-
ping around IA a minute. lie sent up
and got = copy pf the poem. inter.